British director Phil Griffin will helm the biopic about the 26-year-old pop queen's rise to stardom, her sensational breakdown and her impending comeback, The Daily Mirror reports.

Britney will apparently play herself in the movie.

A source said: "It's the film everyone will be queuing to see. It will be dark and gritty - charting Britney's devastating falls including her head-shaving ordeal and her traumatic custody battle for her two children.

"Let's just say, it will not be for the faint-hearted. But it will also show the highs along her incredible life journey."

Insiders are allegedly worried reliving the trauma so soon could be bad for Britney, who is hoping to regain custody of her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

But the source said: "If anything it will be cathartic for Britney.

"She has been through so much and is finally back to her best. This will be her ultimate chance to prove to the world she has still got it."

Britney's new album Circus is out next month and she has made an impressive comeback, scooping three gongs at the MTV VMA Awards in September.